Chapter 6: Malachi

MALACHI

Iturn around to allow Briar Wylder to leave. The beast roaring in my head demands that I chase her. Capture her. Make her mine.

Fuck.

Scrubbing a hand over my face, I rein myself in. With her reaction to my hand moving too fast, there isn't a chance in hell she'd respond well to being chased.

At the reminder of her small body curling in on itself, a red haze coats my vision. Whoever hurt her will pay. Painfully.

I look forward to hearing their screams.

But I need her to trust me enough to tell me who it is. She's too scared of whoever has hurt her to tell even me who it is.

That's another problem.

She doesn't know who I am to her. It was clear when I backed her against the door that she thinks I'm just another professor. She really shouldn't be letting professors press her into doors like that.

How does she not know?

I don't have the answers, only another question. It seems that I have no shortage of questions when it comes to the captivating onyx-haired beauty. Her ice-blue eyes seem to hold the weight of someone much older. Briar Wylder is cloaked in secrets. I'm not going to discover any of them by standing in this deserted classroom.

Packing my black leather messenger bag, I make my way to my office.

As I'm about to round the corner to the office, I hear her sweet voice drifting toward me. Briar's lilting voice is a touch husky and lower than I expected. I like it.

Moving to stand on the opposite wall where I'm still hidden from view, I can see her. She's leaning against the corkboard on the wall next to my office. She has one of her black Converse crossed over the other. Her eyes are closed as she takes deep breaths.

Briar's on the phone, talking to someone. I can hear both sides of the conversation from here. I don't feel even slightly guilty about eavesdropping.

"Rosie? Is everything okay? I thought you were still in class?" The voice on the other end of the call sounds feminine. Young, too.

"I'm fine, Bun Bun. I just wanted to hear your voice. It's been a long day. I'm meeting with my advisor in a few, but I have time to talk a little." Her face looks anything but fine. Her eyebrows are pulled down sharply, and her mouth is set in a harsh line. She also has dark circles under her eyes, as if she doesn't sleep much.

"Oh, okay. How's your first day, other than long?"

"It's been good."

I don't know Briar well, but her tone wouldn't convince even a stranger that she means what she's saying.

"I know you didn't want to go, Rosie. You don't have to pretend you want to be there for me."

Now, that's interesting. Most students would gladly sacrifice a limb or their firstborn to attend this university. Why is Briar here if she doesn't want to be?

"It really has been okay, Aves. Same shit, different day. You know how it goes." Briar's shoulders sag the longer she talks about her school day.

"I'm sorry, Rosie." The girl on the phone pauses for a moment before changing the subject. "Are any of your teachers fuckable?"

Briar's eyes fly open, and her mouth forms a cute little O. She takes a moment to get over her shock before speaking. "Fucking hell, Ava. You can't ask me if my professors are fuckable. Where did you even hear that word?"

"I'm thirteen, not three." My lips turn up at Ava's offended response. "I know what fucking is. I heard some of the other girls describing Mr. Davis as fuckable. I think he's gross, though."

"Good! You shouldn't think any of your teachers are hot." Briar leans her head back against the wall as she's reassured that Ava isn't chasing her teachers.

"I don't. Geez. Can you really blame me for wanting to make sure my only sister doesn't die a virgin, sad and alone, only kept company by a bazillion dogs?" Ava's tone is petulant and sweet at the same time.

Briar makes a strangled noise at Ava's question. "I'm not…. You know what? We are so not talking about my sex life."

"Or lack of," Ava chimes in with a small giggle.

"For fuck's sake, Ava," Briar says in exasperation. She still has a small smile on her face, so I know she's not as annoyed as she's trying to seem.

"Okay, fine. Can you at least tell me if your advisor is hot?" Ava's relentless.

"I'm not going to answer that."

"Oh my God! He is!" Ava cackles, pleased at getting a response from Briar.

Sighing, Briar responds, "Yes, he is, okay? All of my professors were today. I've gotta go, though, Aves. I really don't want my advisor overhearing this conversation."

Well, that's certainly good to know. From my glance at her schedule earlier, I know she had Xander's and Bastian's classes before mine. Even if she doesn't know who we are to her, she's still attracted to us.

"Okay. FaceTime at six still?"

"You bet, Bun Bun. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I love you." Briar's voice sounds wistful, like she's already missing her sister.

"Love you too, Rosie."

After hanging up the phone, Briar clutches it to her chest. Her lips are still tipped up in a small smile. She looks as peaceful as I've ever seen her.

Eavesdropping on her call with her sister has only left me with more questions than I started with. Shaking my head, I know I won't get any answers by standing here staring at her. I retreat to the end of the hall before turning back to my office, and I purposely make my footsteps louder so she can hear me coming.